The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns of a parechovirus outbreak.
Parechovirus is a virus genus that is related to, among other things, enteroviruses, according to National Institute of Public Health.
– Parechovirus infection mainly affects the youngest children and can cause encephalitis and meningitis. Newborns can develop a serious disease picture with sepsis, FHI writes on its pages.
Encephalitis is encephalitis, while meningitis is meningitis.
84 cases in Norway
In the period 2011-2018, 84 cases of parechovirus infection were reported in newborns in Norway. The vast majority had a sepsis-like picture with multi-organ failure or infection in the brain, or both.
Died in extreme heat – police warn
Since May, several states in the United States reported about cases of parechovirus infections in newborns and young toddlers.
American doctors are now being encouraged to test children who have a fever or sepsis-like symptoms for parechovirus.
FEVER: One of the symptoms of parechovirus infection is fever. Photo: Jjustas / Shutterstock / NTB
sea view
The same applies to children who come in with symptoms of a neurological disease, such as seizures or meningitis, without there being any other known cause.
Connected to serious illness
There are several types of parechovirus, but only PeV-A can cause disease in humans. There are several subtypes of PeV-A, but it is PeV-A3 that is most often linked to serious illness.
– So far, all detected cases of parechovirus have been PeV-A3, writes CDC.
Suspects viral disease with extreme mortality
In infected children between six months and five years of age, symptoms such as upper respiratory tract infection, fever and rash are common.
– The vast majority of children have been infected before they start kindergarten. However, in infants younger than three months, serious illness can occur.
sea view
–
The very youngest are prone to sepsis-like disease, that is, an infection that causes the body’s organs to fail. The infected can also be affected by seizures, encephalitis and meningitis.
– There is no specific treatment for parechovirus infection. But diagnosing young children can affect how to deal with the disease, as well as contribute important health information for families, writes CDC.
Can be infected by mother
There is no reporting system for parechovirus in the USA, and it is therefore unclear whether the number of infected people has increased compared to previous years.
According to the National Institute of Public Health, the parechovirus is transmitted through infectious substances from faeces that enter the body through the mouth.
Thea (25) warns against life-threatening sun trend
Newborns can be infected through close contact with the mother, if the mother has symptoms. Most people who become infected have no symptoms.
– The most common symptoms are enteritis with diarrhea and respiratory symptoms. Newborns in particular can develop high fever, and signs of encephalitis or meningitis, and sepsis. Skin rash and joint pain can also be seen. Transient flaccid paralysis can occur, writes FHI.
–
